The Have That Wasn't

Too much love
Too much hate
Swallow my doubt
Leave it up to fate
Give a little
Get none
Not enough
And too much fun
Dreams come true
Without a doubt
But not fast enough
To suppress your shout

Once upon a time
Is always far away
Time should stand still
Because here I stay
But time moves on
Sometimes without me
Because I stay the same
While everything else changes completely

1, 2, 3,
Time to sing
Ordered about
By at least one king
A, B, C,
Count to ten
The lines smudge
With ink from a pen
Step one, step two,
Step here, step there
But orders can't make
You dance without a care

Suck it up
Soak it in
Who's to lose
Who's to win?
Hold it back
Let it go
Smile a yes
Frown a no

Go ahead
Why stop now?
Curtains closed
Time to bow
Shake it off
Fall to the floor
Because you took too much
But still want more
Go right on
Who's to stop you?
Common knowledge
But no one knew

Spin about
'til you fall
There's nothing left
They took it all
Dizzying turns
We all fall down
Don't want the chains
But can't wear the crown

All have bubbles
That sometimes pop
All have nightmares
That need to stop
All have monsters
Under their bed
All have fears
Running through their head
All have memories
That they regret
All have might-have-been's
Like the day we met . . .

But that's life
Sending us on our way
Not always great
But that's okay
Because when comes the bad
We can remember the good
And forget our regrets
And the have that wasn't, but could

Inferior Interior

     I must have been mistaking, because now I've been stretched to the point of breaking.  But do you care?  Are you even really there?
     Your reasoning is gibberish to my ears - "What's the point of tears?"
     How can you ask that question without a trace of guilt on your fearsome face?  You stare me down, looking straight through my eye, demanding of me that I never cry while tears stain my cheeks and drip from my chin . . . You just always have to win, so I always have to lose, don't I?  Do you even realize it's your own fault that I cry?
     Just leave me alone, for once in your life!  From my back remove your knife!
     Your words are like punches, beating me down.  You dare not let me question who wears the crown.  But all those things you said . . . you lied.  Surely you are empty inside . . . But what is it with you and tears?  Weakness and fears?  Why are they outlawed?  Perhaps you're just a fraud . . .
     But I dare not think that way!  Oh, way must my mind stray?  You'll find out for sure, and my treacherous thoughts you won't ignore . . .
     I didn't mean it, I swear!  But about my reasoning you do not care . . . What about me; do you care about that or anyone else?  When you speak everything around me melts as tears obscure my view . . . My tears are because of you!  So leave me alone, please . . . Just blow away in the breeze.  I don't want you here anymore, but you thrive at my vary core, shouting in my ear; saying I'm weak because of my fear.
     But you're the main reason I'm afraid!  For long enough I've played your little game.  It really is a shame that I ever listened to you in the first place.  But now it's time for you to leave without a trace; you've been here far too long, telling me that I'm not strong.
     "You're weak!  You cry and you love when you should suck it up and shove!  You are inferior!  For your interior is so very vulnerable.  But you aren't incurable.  I can make you stronger if you just let me stay a while longer."
     I'm tempted to listen like I always do, but then I realize you're asking for my permission; you're begging for my submission!
     You're what makes me weak!  You're the one who makes my eyes leak . . . and it's my own fault, because I allowed you into my precious vault.  I let you into my heart, just to have you try and break it apart.  You're the one who's inferior!  For your interior is bleak, black, and blank, making you rude, mean, and frank . . .
     Well, guess what?  For once I get to win, because I'm kicking you out and not letting you back in, ever, never again.

Heart of Coal

Run, run, run away
Run so far you cannot stay
For when you stop we'll be there
And from you we will tear
Your own soul
For we have hearts of coal

So run, run, run away
Do not stop; you cannot stay
For when you do
We'll kill you too
We'll take your soul
For we have hearts of coal

So run, run, run away
Run away; you dare not stay
For if you do you will find
Us demons are far from kind
To hell we will take your soul
For we have hearts of coal

Run, run, run away
With all your problems you cannot stay
For you cannot hide from the mistakes you've made
And for your trouble you haven't paid
You have corrupted your own soul
For you have a heart of coal

So run. Run. Run away.
For the further you run the less likely you are to stay
Gone are your family and your friends
For this hell you live in never ends
For with all you have done you have broken your soul
For you have a heart of coal

So run . . . run . . . run away
For, my dear, no one wants you to stay
For your mistakes are much too grand
And now everyone shall understand
That you have a pure dark soul
And a hard heart of coal

Salt

Salt water rain
Full of sorrow and pain
Pouring down from my blurry eyes
Because everyone's so full of lies

Salt water droplets
Coming from my eye sockets
Slow and grieving
Because everyone's thieving

Salt water tears
Laced with betrayal and fears
Running down my cold face
Because they left without a trace

Salt water down pour
Feelings of anger and more
Rushing down from my eyes of ice
Because everyone's greed they had to suffice

Salt water smile
Because I'm afraid to stand up to the vile
So hide my sorrow
Maybe they'll leave me alone tomorrow

Salt water lake
Because they took all there was to take
And left me alone to fight
And I am not all right

Salt water friend
Because my happiness was at its end
So you try to cheer me up
With coffee and a cup

Salt water lightning
Because it's all quite frightening
But also so grand
When you hold my hand

Salt water thunder
Full of hope and wonder
As I look into your kind face
Gone are my worries without a trace

Stunted

I was born crying, as most are
I've, as most have, come far
I've grown teeth, lost them, and grown them again
I have good luck and bad, sometimes lose and sometimes win
I learned to hobble, crawl, and walk
Learned to read, write, and talk
I've grown in every which way
I've had to go and had to stay
I've made mistakes, like everyone
I've had too much and not enough fun
But one thing hasn't changed since I was born
Something people do when they're happy, sad, or torn
Something I probably won't grow out of until I die
And that is my inability not to cry